49/15. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 5403 — Mercy Reveals the Truth
The Judge is Allowed to Speak of Something That He Will Not Actually Do in Order to Establish the Truth
Hadith About Wise Judgment: Prophet Sulaiman and the Two Women
Sunan an-Nasai : 5403
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 5403
أَخْبَرَنَا الرَّبِيعُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعَيْبُ بْنُ اللَّيْثِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَجْلاَنَ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ قَالَ " خَرَجَتِ امْرَأَتَانِ مَعَهُمَا صَبِيَّانِ لَهُمَا فَعَدَا الذِّئْبُ عَلَى إِحْدَاهُمَا فَأَخَذَ وَلَدَهَا فَأَصْبَحَتَا تَخْتَصِمَانِ فِي الصَّبِيِّ الْبَاقِي إِلَى دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ فَقَضَى بِهِ لِلْكُبْرَى مِنْهُمَا فَمَرَّتَا عَلَى سُلَيْمَانَ فَقَالَ كَيْفَ أَمْرُكُمَا فَقَصَّتَا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ ائْتُونِي بِالسِّكِّينِ أَشُقُّ الْغُلاَمَ بَيْنَهُمَا . فَقَالَتِ الصُّغْرَى أَتَشُقُّهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ . فَقَالَتْ لاَ تَفْعَلْ حَظِّي مِنْهُ لَهَا . قَالَ . هُوَ ابْنُكِ . فَقَضَى بِهِ لَهَا " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: "Two women went out with two children of theirs, and the wolf attacked one of them and took her child. The next day they referred their dispute over the remaining child to Dawud, peace be upon him, and he ruled that (the child) belonged to the older woman.Then they passed by Sulaiman and he said: 'What is your story?' So they told him. He said: 'Bring me a knife and I will cut him in half (to be shared) between you.' The younger one said: 'Will you cut him in half?' He said: 'Yes.' She said: 'Do not do that; I will give my share of him to her.' He said: 'He is your child' and he ruled that he belonged to her."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 5403In-book reference : Book 49, Hadith 25English translation : Vol. 6, Book 49, Hadith 5405
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 5403
This hadith about wise judgment gives another narration of the dispute between two women over one child. A wolf had taken one of their children, and both women claimed the child who remained. Prophet Dawud first ruled for the older woman. When they passed by Prophet Sulaiman, he asked about their case and then said a knife should be brought so the child could be divided between them. The younger woman immediately gave up her share to save the child from harm. Sulaiman then said the child was hers and judged for her. The hadith teaches that mercy, quick concern for life, and selfless care can help show the truth in a dispute.
What we learn from this hadith
- Wise judgment may include testing the claims of the disputing sides.
- The younger woman's mercy showed her deep care for the child.
- Protecting life mattered more to her than winning the argument.
- A ruling can be based on signs that become clear during the case.
